Article: TOR 4, MIN 3: Pressley Fails To Pounce, Is Victim Of A Bad Bounce

[Tom Froemming]

After a pair of big wins on big blasts, the Twins fell Friday due in large part to an unlucky bounce. Bartolo Colon got off to a nice start on Big Sexy night at Target Field, but things started to go a bit south and the bullpen couldn’t stop the bleeding. Ryan Pressly failed to pounce on a bunt and gave up the go-ahead single on a ball that deflected off his leg.Snapshot (chart via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot915.png

With the game tied at 3-3 with two outs in the seventh inning, Josh Donaldson sent a comebacker right toward Ryan Pressly. The ball ricocheted off Pressly’s leg and shot toward the hole between shortstop and third base.

 

Jorge Polanco, who had broken toward where the ball had been hit, could merely watch the go-ahead run cross the plate as he retrieved the ball. The Blue Jays bullpen did an excellent job of making that one-run advantage hold up, combining for 2.2 perfect innings.

 

The Twins led 3-1 heading into the top of the sixth, but Colon started to run out of gas and Pressly couldn’t quite contain the Jays. Big Sexy gave up a solo homer to Donaldson in the sixth, but had a very manageable pitch count. He opened the seventh by walking the leadoff man and giving up a double to the next batter.

 

On the very first pitch Pressly threw, he was unable to bounce on a bunt (there goes that word again), and gave up a single. With the bases juiced, he managed to retire the next two batters, but Donaldson’s tough-luck comebacker was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back.

 

Colon gave up four earned runs on five hits and two walks over 6.0 innings. He had just one strikeout. Brian Dozier was 2-for-4 and hit his 31st homer, which was the Twins lone extra-base hit. Byron Buxton was also 2-or-4 and stole his 26th base. Tyler Duffey had been scuffling, but he held Toronto scoreless over the final two innings.

 

AL Wild Card Standings

WC1: Yankees 81-66 (+4.0)

WC2: Twins 77-70

Angels 74-72 (-2.5)* Friday game still in progress when this published.

Seattle 74-74 (-3.5)

 

Postgame With Molitor

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

Download attachment: Bullpen915.png

Looking Ahead

Sat: Twins (Adalberto Mejia) vs. Blue Jays (Marco Estrada), 6:10 pm CT

Sun: Twins (Kyle Gibson) vs. Blue Jays (Joe Biagini), 1:10 pm CT

Mon: Twins (Ervin Santana) at Yankees (Sonny Gray) , 6:05 pm CT

 

Looking Back

MIN 3, TOR 2: Buxton Blasts Walk-Off HR

MIN 3, SDP 1: Rosario Hits Walk-Off HR in 10th Inning

MIN 16, SDP 0: MIN 16, SDP 0: Twins Hit 7 HRs, Set New Record

 

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[Dantes929]

Colon walked the leadoff guy and then fell behind on the next guy but he did ok otherwise.   I really need to turn the TV off when Pressley comes in.    Great stuff but he just never does well when I watch.   I was with Dick by the way.  I think we caught a break on Buxton's bunt when he seemed to make a turn after running past the base.  Great bunt though.  Again we see good things happen when he is on base.

[Rosterman]

You don't have to push your starters. Especially 44-year-old guys. If you get five innings, you leap for joy. if you get six, be more than happy. No need to run them out for seven. Keep them strong down this stretch, and you need to keep the bullpen arms alive. 

 

You had four pitchers you could use. Three more you could use today or tomorrow.

 

And you still have Slegers getting left out in the cold, too.

 

Dougie M. Gonna miss you!

[USAFChief]

Colon shouldn't have come out for the 6th, much less the 7th. That was obvious to anyone watching the game.

 

 

Molitor lost this game, not colon, and certainly not Pressley, who pitched quite well.

[Dantes929]

 

Colon shouldn't have come out for the 6th, much less the 7th. That was obvious to anyone watching the game.


Molitor lost this game, not colon, and certainly not Pressley, who pitched quite well.

See that's it.    I saw the bunt, put my boy to bed and came back in time to see him give up the hit.     I blame myself.

[Dantes929]

 

Colon shouldn't have come out for the 6th, much less the 7th. That was obvious to anyone watching the game.

 

Its never obvious to me.   It always looks like he is about to get shelled from the first inning on.     Only became obvious to me when he walked a guy because he just can't afford those.    I see Pressley and think "why isn't he an all star with his stuff"   I see Colon and think "why isn't he pitching in a beer softball league somewhere with his stuff".

[drjim]

Colon shouldn't have come out for the 6th, much less the 7th. That was obvious to anyone watching the game.

 

 

Molitor lost this game, not colon, and certainly not Pressley, who pitched quite well.

2 hits and a walk, even if unlucky, is not pitching well.

 

I like to think Molitor would have pulled Colon of he had his full complement of relievers (or at least most of them), but he needed to get through 8 innings without using his best 4 relievers. My blame, such as it is, goes a little higher than Molitor. This type of loss directly results from taking away bullpen depth.

 

Plus 3 runs is a little light.

[Gold15]

I know this is unrelated to the game, but does anyone know why Mientkiewicz got fired from Managing Fort Myers?

[Aaron Cross]

So frustrating Pressly didn't realize where his fielders were and pull back his glove. The ball was hit directly into the shift. An easy out for Dozier. Pressly was actually very good otherwise. An encouraging outing. They will need him.

Edited September 16, 2017 by Aaron Cross

[Aaron Cross]

I know this is unrelated to the game, but does anyone know why Mientkiewicz got fired from Managing Fort Myers?

Falvine want to bring in their own guys. Can't fault them for that.

[Platoon]

2 hits? A bunt, that went under his glove and that EE did not exactly attack and a GB which hit him in the foot? Colon gave up more wood than that in getting 3 outs in the first inning. I am not a big Molitor fan, but it was time to pull Colon. The swings were carefree and vicious, the outs were very loud. Sooner or later he was gonna get dinged. The last 3 innings were the cumulative effect of having shorter starts and relying on the same few RP's each game. Sooner or later they need a night off. My concern isn't that he did not use them, it's that he sometimes uses them when behind in games and then doesn't have them as available as should be. That said, the team has had some good luck (Gordon mis playing TWO fly balls?) and last night the worm turned.

[USAFChief]

2 hits and a walk, even if unlucky, is not pitching well.

I like to think Molitor would have pulled Colon of he had his full complement of relievers (or at least most of them), but he needed to get through 8 innings without using his best 4 relievers. My blame, such as it is, goes a little higher than Molitor. This type of loss directly results from taking away bullpen depth.

Plus 3 runs is a little light.

Neither hit left the infield, the walk was intentional, and if the second hit doesn't get him on the foot, he gets out of that inning tied. He threw the bell well.

 

Besides, Pressly isn't the point.

 

I agree the bullpen isn't strong, or deep, but that's irrelevant. It is what it is. He had to use his bullpen anyway, only now it's a tie game, go ahead run on second, no out.

 

Really, really awful managing. ANY reliever starting the inning was a better choice than Colon.

[Blake]

 

Neither hit left the infield, the walk was intentional, and if the second hit doesn't get him on the foot, he gets out of that inning tied. He threw the bell well.

Besides, Pressly isn't the point.

I agree the bullpen isn't strong, or deep, but that's irrelevant. It is what it is. He had to use his bullpen anyway, only now it's a tie game, go ahead run on second, no out.

Really, really awful managing. ANY reliever starting the inning was a better choice than Colon.

Now that you mention it, I have to wonder, exactly, what Molitor was thinking. Molitor's been quick, in the past, to pull pitchers when things start getting out of hand yet lets Colon start the seventh. It's late in the season and the Twins have reached "all hands on deck" time in regards to a the playoff push. 

 

I also remember Tom Kelly explaining that he pulled a pitcher, even though the pitch count wasn't high and the score still favored the Twins, because the pitcher was giving up "loud" outs. So, I gotta go with 6 innings, pull Colon and turn it over the bullpen, regardless of the score, because, Colon had given up more than his share of loud outs.

 

This is year three of Molitor managing and I'm seeing too many mistakes. And if I see them, how many more are being made of which I'm unaware?

 

Okay, box score show Colon going 6. Am I missing something? I thought Colon started the 7th. Or did Colon start the 7th, not record an out and therefore, the box score shows Colon pitching 6?

Edited September 16, 2017 by Blake

[USAFChief]

Correct. Colon came out for the 7th, gave up a four pitch walk and a ringing double down the left field line.

[Platoon]

Now that you mention it, I have to wonder, exactly, what Molitor was thinking. Molitor's been quick, in the past, to pull pitchers when things start getting out of hand yet lets Colon start the seventh. It's late in the season and the Twins have reached "all hands on deck" time in regards to a the playoff push

Not particularly surprising when you consider Molitors long history of "veteran deference".

[blindeke]

No way Colon should be in the 7th at all. He barely got out of the 6th. It's not about pitch count with him, it's about how many times the opposing hitters have seen his "stuff". Twice through the lineup is about all you are gonna get, and that's only if you're lucky.

[drjim]

Correct. Colon came out for the 7th, gave up a four pitch walk and a ringing double down the left field line.

To be clear, I would have absolutely pulled him after the walk and I wasn't exactly ecstatic about him even starting the inning. But I also wasn't really excited about the prospect of Pressly and Duffey getting through 2 clean innings.

 

It's another situation where I don't think he had a clear option.

[drjim]

Now that you mention it, I have to wonder, exactly, what Molitor was thinking. Molitor's been quick, in the past, to pull pitchers when things start getting out of hand yet lets Colon start the seventh. It's late in the season and the Twins have reached "all hands on deck" time in regards to a the playoff push.

 

I also remember Tom Kelly explaining that he pulled a pitcher, even though the pitch count wasn't high and the score still favored the Twins, because the pitcher was giving up "loud" outs. So, I gotta go with 6 innings, pull Colon and turn it over the bullpen, regardless of the score, because, Colon had given up more than his share of loud outs.

 

This is year three of Molitor managing and I'm seeing too many mistakes. And if I see them, how many more are being made of which I'm unaware?

 

Okay, box score show Colon going 6. Am I missing something? I thought Colon started the 7th. Or did Colon start the 7th, not record an out and therefore, the box score shows Colon pitching 6?

The difference is that he didn't want to use his best 3 relievers. Molitor strikes me as aggressive with his relievers going for wins if he has the right ones available. He pushes his starters when he doesn't.

 

It's why I don't especially blame him for last night.

[twinsnorth49]

Molitor simply has to have a better feel for the game than to throw Colon out there for the 7th. The 6th should have given him all the sense he needed to make that call, it's inexplicable that he didn't. Colon did his job, it was in the best interests of the team for the bullpen to take over and Mollie missed that call.

 

Piss poor.

[USAFChief]

It's another situation where I don't think he had a clear option.

He had options. Clear ones. Crystal clear.

 

Let the bullpen start fresh with a lead, or let the bullpen try to put out a fire, probably with the lead gone.

 

He's going to have to use the pen before the game ends anyway.

 

He chose poorly.

[Brandon Warne]

 

So frustrating Pressly didn't realize where his fielders were and pull back his glove. The ball was hit directly into the shift. An easy out for Dozier. Pressly was actually very good otherwise. An encouraging outing. They will need him.

 

It didn't hit his glove. He knew Dozier was behind him and was trying to get out of the way. 

[drjim]

He had options. Clear ones. Crystal clear.

 

Let the bullpen start fresh with a lead, or let the bullpen try to put out a fire, probably with the lead gone.

 

He's going to have to use the pen before the game ends anyway.

 

He chose poorly.

Maybe. I still look at how it played out and think his plan was to try and get through the 8th just using Pressly, with maybe an out from Boshers. Doesn't make it quite as crystal clear.

[Blake]

 

He had options. Clear ones. Crystal clear.

Let the bullpen start fresh with a lead, or let the bullpen try to put out a fire, probably with the lead gone.

He's going to have to use the pen before the game ends anyway.

He chose poorly.

I think when you're going with your secondary relievers, you go with a clean inning rather than let them put out a fire.

 

And, I like Pressley starting an inning much better than I like him trying to put out a fire. Of course, this goes back to Molitor. I wonder if he really has a feel for his pitching staff and how best to use it?

 

Of course, with the way things shaped up last night, even bringing in your best relievers was putting them in a position to fail. No room for error.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

This is the problem with having the 40 year old Bartolo Colon. He always looks cooked. Nearly imposible for Molitor to have any idea when to swap this guy out for a fresh arm. Although maybe a four pitch walk is a sign. It's also hard for the coaches to engage him in the dugout. Who knows with this guy.

[Blake]

 

Maybe. I still look at how it played out and think his plan was to try and get through the 8th just using Pressly, with maybe an out from Boshers. Doesn't make it quite as crystal clear.

If Hildenburger is available, while I think he's much better in these situations, it still is asking a lot.

 

I just don't think Pressley is best used in the situation last night. 

 

Molitor knew who was available and also knew, going into the seventh that Colon had gotten that far mostly on smoke and mirrors.

 

Although, I'm going to be up front and admit I've got Molitor under a microscope because of past managing blunders.

 

edit: realized I'd committed the blunder of taking contradictory positions. Something that is only allowed when writing or participating in a game thread.

Edited September 16, 2017 by Blake

[drjim]

I think when you're going with your secondary relievers, you go with a clean inning rather than let them put out a fire.

 

And, I like Pressley starting an inning much better than I like him trying to put out a fire. Of course, this goes back to Molitor. I wonder if he really has a feel for his pitching staff and how best to use it?

 

Of course, with the way things shaped up last night, even bringing in your best relievers was putting them in a position to fail. No room for error.

The fact he has led this staff to this record makes me think he has a good handle on how to use it.

[USAFChief]

The fact he has led this staff to this record makes me think he has a good handle on how to use it.

Or his handling of his staff has maximized the problems and weaknesses and prevented them from taking advantage of what he does have.

 

Like, not pushing 44 year old, lives and dies by the slimmest of margins, needs pinpoint command to have any shot Bartolo Colon past the clear point when he doesn't have those things.

 

And then expecting his bullpen--without its best relievers--to put out the fire.

[howeda7]

Mollie left Colon in too long. I know his pitch count was good, but he was getting hit hard all night. Should have taken the 6 innings and called it a day, or at most given him one base runner in the 7th.

[twinsnorth49]

The fact he has led this staff to this record makes me think he has a good handle on how to use it.

Appealing to the team's record as proof he handles the pen well? I think there is still plenty of room for doubt regardless. That goes for pretty much any manager really.

[DocBauer]

To be clear, I understand and appreciate the opinions of starting someone else for the 7th. I can't say I disagree. But I still don't find fault with sending Colon to start the 7th considering a few of the relievers were not available.

 

My problem is he should been pulled after the walk. That was the signal to make a move.